A 24-year-old woman died and two young girls were injured Saturday night when an SUV rolled into a ravine at the Cuervitos dunes in Valle de Mexicali.
The crash happened just before 11 p.m. on May 16. The family was driving a white Jeep Cherokee through the off-road dune area when the vehicle overturned, according to local reports. Emergency crews responded and found the woman dead at the scene.
Two Girls Hospitalized After Rollover
Paramedics transported the two injured children, ages five and two, to Mexicali General Hospital. The five-year-old suffered a fractured right arm. The two-year-old sustained minor injuries, and both were reported in stable condition.
Authorities detained the driver at the scene. The case has been turned over to the Fiscalía General del Estado (FGE), Baja California’s state attorney general’s office, which will investigate the cause of the accident. No details about the driver’s identity or relationship to the victims have been released.
Cuervitos Dunes Draw Weekend Crowds
The Cuervitos dunes are a popular recreational area located east of Mexicali in the agricultural flatlands of Valle de Mexicali. The sandy terrain draws off-road enthusiasts, families, and ATV riders, particularly on weekends. The area lacks paved roads, lighting, and formal safety infrastructure, making nighttime driving especially dangerous.
Rollover crashes are a known hazard at sand dune recreation areas, where steep slopes and loose terrain can cause vehicles to lose traction without warning. The risk increases after dark when visibility drops and drivers cannot gauge the angle of dune faces.
The FGE has not released further details about the investigation or whether alcohol or speed played a role in the crash. The incident was first reported by Punto Norte.